What to a Slave Is The Fourth of July and The Lost Boys Critical Analysis

The common theme in What to a Slave Is The Fourth of July and The Lost Boys could be perseverance. During the time in which What’s to a Slave the fourth of July African Americans were viewed as less than humans and inferior but an African American male stood before a group of mostly white Americans about to make a speech. While in the Lost Boys, it was explained over the hurdles they overcame to escape to freedom.

Both authors use a form of rhetorical writing style. Douglass displays logical fallacy. Douglas speech was created to dispels that African Americans were less than human. With subtle hints to the audience, Douglas conveys that learning from a dark skin toned person could happen despite their thoughts of being superior. Douglass acknowledges that all though they allow him to speak they still laugh at him. “But neither their familiar faces, nor the perfect gage I think I have of Corinthian Hall, seems to free me from embarrassment” (Douglass 2).

While Corbolt uses rhetorical pathos writing style. Corbolt makes to convey to the reader to really understand the hurdles that the boys had to overcome. The boys struggle with opening a box, which is something that we learned at an early age. Some of the boys even “…starved by dehydration by drinking their own urine” (Corbolt 596).

Douglass and Corbolt both spoke about some tough issue that some try to ignore.  Both displayed emotional but firm tones, with the struggles that African Americans have endured but continue to persevere. Although both authors were from different times their theme of perseverance is what links them together.